Blakiella facts for kids

Blakiella is a special group of flowering plants. It's a genus that has only one known species: Blakiella bartsiifolia. This plant belongs to the Asteraceae family, which is also known as the daisy or sunflower family.

You can find Blakiella bartsiifolia growing naturally in the northeastern parts of South America. It lives in countries like Colombia and Venezuela.

What is Blakiella bartsiifolia?

This plant is a perennial herb. This means it's a small, non-woody plant that lives for more than two years. It grows several stems that don't branch out, reaching up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) tall. These stems grow from a strong, woody base.

Sticky Leaves and Yellow Flowers

The leaves of Blakiella bartsiifolia are covered in tiny, sticky hairs called trichomes. These hairs hold small drops of a sticky liquid. Scientists think this sticky coating helps protect the plant from too much sunlight.

When it flowers, Blakiella bartsiifolia produces yellow flowers. These flowers are grouped together in what looks like a single large flower head, but it's actually many tiny flowers packed closely. This special arrangement is called a pseudanthium.

Where Does It Grow?

This plant loves to live in high mountain areas called páramo habitat. Páramos are unique grasslands found in the Andes mountains, often above the tree line. Blakiella bartsiifolia usually grows in small amounts of soil and plant material that collect in rocky cracks and crevices.

See also

• In Spanish: Blakiella bartsiifolia para niños